Leporello is on watch outside Donna Anna's house. Inside Don Giovanni is trying to gain the confidence and affection of Donna Anna. As he waits Leporello complains about his job as Don Giovanni's servant, with its long hours for little pay and the constant need to make excuses and cover up for his master's wrong-doings (Notte e giorno faticar). He is interrupted by a disturbance within the house and decides to hide where he can see but not be seen. Don Giovanni and Donna Anna come from the house.
Anna cries for help as she struggles with Giovanni who is taking great care to hide his face from her. She is determined to discover his identity. Hearing his daughter's cries the Commendatore rushes to her assistance and challenges Giovanni to a fight. Anna returns to the house to seek further help.
Giovanni has no wish to fight the old man but the Commendatore persists and, in a brief duel, receives a fatal wound. Giovanni and Leporello (who has emerged from his hiding-place) leave hastily.
Anna reappears with her fiancé, Ottavio, and a group of servants. She finds her father's body (Ma qual mai s'offre). The shock and grief cause her to faint. Ottavio calls for smelling salts and instructs the servants to remove the Commendatore's body. Anna regains consciousness. At first she is confused and mistakes Ottavio for the unknown intruder, her father's murderer. As her head clears she determines to bring her father's killer to justice and seeks Ottavio's support: 'Swear to avenge my father. Swear it by Heaven above!' (Fuggi, crudele, fuggi!)
Leporello tries to persuade Giovanni to change his ways and to break the habit of pursuing every beautiful woman he sets eyes on. Giovanni brushes aside such an absurd idea and instead turns his thoughts to the next young woman.
As he speaks Giovanni catches the scent of a woman nearby. He and Leporello step into the house, as she approaches. She is Donna Elvira, a lady, who has travelled to Seville in search of the lover who has betrayed her (Ah, chi mi dice maì). When she finds him she will kill him 'and laugh to see him die'. Giovanni feels sympathy for the lady and steps forward to console her.
Too late he recognizes Donna Elvira. He, of course, is the unfaithful lover. Giovanni assures her that he had very good reasons for leaving in such haste after only three days. He realizes that Elvira might not wish to listen to an explanation from him and suggests that perhaps she will trust the words of 'honest' Leporello. 'What shall I tell her?' whispers Leporello to Giovanni. 'Tell her the whole truth', his master replies.
As soon as Elvira's attention is turned to Leporello, Giovanni slips away. Elvira is furious that she should have been tricked so easily, but Leporello begs her not to be unduly upset.
His master is not worth wasting a thought on. She is not the first woman to have been treated in this manner by Giovanni and she most certainly will not be the last. Leporello produces a book in which he lists the women who have been similarly deceived: 640 in Italy, 231 in Germany, 100 in France and 91 in Turkey. In Spain there have already been 1003! (Madamina, il catalogo è questo).
Zerlina, Masetto and a group of friends are gathered to celebrate the young couple's wedding. Don Giovanni and Leporello arrive to ask the cause of the merry-making.
Giovanni is immediately attracted to Zerlina. He insists that he will take Masetto and Zerlina under his protection and instructs Leporello to lead Masetto and the others to his villa where they will celebrate at his expense. Giovanni will bring Zerlina along shortly. Masetto worries for Zerlina's safety (Ho capito). But there is little he can do and so the main party leaves for Giovanni's villa.
Left alone with Zerlina, Giovanni tells her that a man of low birth like Masetto is not worthy of a young woman of such beauty and sweetness. He promises to marry her himself and offers her riches and the life of a lady (Là ci darem). Zerlina at first resists Giovanni's persuasive talking but in a short time she is won over by his charm. The pair are about to leave together when Donna Elvira reappears.
Elvira warns Zerlina of Giovanni's icey and treacherous ways and begs her to escape from him while she can (A fuggi il traditor).
To Zerlina Giovanni explains that Elvira is an unhappy woman who is madly in love with him and to whom he has to be kind. To Eivira he insists that his relationship with Zerlina is perfectly innocent, just playfulness. Elvira tells Zerlina of her own experience of Giovanni and rushes her away to be re-united with Masetto.
No sooner have Elvira and Zerlina left than Anna and Ottavio appear. Anna is deeply distressed by her father's death and ask Giovanni's assistance in tracking down the killer that he may be brought to Justice. Elvira returns to find Giovanni in conversation with Anna and assumes that he is trying to tempt her just as he has Zerlina a little earlier. She warns Anna not to trust him (Non ti fidar).
Giovanni protests that Elvira is mad and asks to be left alone with her in order that he might calm her down. But Anna and Ottavio are not convinced by his behaviour. On the other hand there seems to be a ring of truth about Elvira's story and a dignity about her appearance. Eventually Elvira leaves and is followed by Giovanni who says that he dare not leave her in such distress. He also assures Anna that he will serve her in any way he can.
These last words and the tone in which they are spoken convince Anna that the mysterious intruder, her father's killer, was Don Giovanni. She explains to Ottavio how, as she sat alone in her room in the dim light of evening, a man entered with his cloak wrapped close around him.
Anna had believed that it was Ottavio but, as the man attempted to embrace her and stifle her cries, she realized that it was not her fiancé. She broke free and chased her attacker into the street. Her call for help was answered by her father who paid the price for her honour with his life. Now that Ottavio knows who the traitor is he must take vengeance on her father's killer (Or sai chi l'onore).
Ottavio cannot believe that Giovanni, a nobleman and a friend, could behave so cruelly.
If she is right his duty is clear. His happiness depends on Anna's peace of mind (Dalla sua pace).
Leporello and Giovanni meet up once more and Leporello tells his master what happened when he took the wedding guests back to Giovanni's villa. All was proceeding according to plan with much drinking and singing when Elvira burst in accompanied by Zerlina.
Elvira then delivered a savage attack on Giovanni's character before Leporello was eventually able to guide her out to the street, locking the door behind her to ensure she would not return. But Giovanni shows little interest in what has passed. Instead he plans to enjoy an even wilder party that same evening and promises that Leporello will have more names to add to his list before the night is through (Fin ch'tian dal vino).
Zerlina tries to assure Masetto that Giovanni did not even touch the tips of her fingers, but Masetto feels deeply hurt and shamed that on their wedding day Zerlina has spent time alone with another man. Zerlina tries a different approach. She tells Masetto she loves only him and if he doesn't believe her he can punish her, beat her: 'Like a lamb I'll bear each blow. But she pleads that they will then embrace like aristocrats (Batti, batti). Eventually Masetto is persuaded that she is innocent.
Zerlina hears Giovanni coming their way and tries to hide. Masetto is puzzled by her behaviour and his suspicions are again roused. He decides that he will hide, somewhere where he can hear any conversation between Giovanni and Zerlina. Giovanni appears, inviting peasants to attend the party and instructing his servants to 'go ahead and make the necessary preparations'. As Zerlina tries to hide she is caught by Giovanni. He tries to persuade her to go off with him but as he draws her away they bump into Masetto in his hiding place.
With quickness of mind Giovanni mildly rebukes Masetto for leaving Zerlina alone and leads the couple inside to join his party. Leporello notices three masked figures approaching through the garden.
Giovanni tells him to invite the masked guests to join the party. They are Anna, Elvira and Ottavio. They have come to seek vengeance on Giovanni and they pray that Heaven will protect them in their task (Protegga il giusto cielo).
The dance has just finished. The manner in which Giovanni compliments Zerlina on her charming appearance again stirs jealousy and anger in Masetto. The three masked guests enter and are welcomed by Giovanni.
Three groups of musicians provide music: three contrasting dances that are heard at the same time: a minuet for the aristocrats, a quadrille (country dance), danced by Zerlina and Giovanni, and a deutscher (a fast German waltz), in which Leporello insists on instructing Masetto in the art of dancing, in spite of Masetto's protests. While Leporello distracts Masetto, Giovanni directs his dancing with Zerlina towards a side room. Realizing that they have disappeared Masetto frees himself from Leporello and goes in search of Zerlina. Leporello also leaves hurriedly sensing that there could be disaster for his master.
Zerlina's screams bring the dancing to an end. She returns to the ballroom, deeply distressed. Giovanni soon follows, dragging Leporello by the the arm and claiming that this is the scoundrel who has attacked Zerlina.
Anna, Elvira and Ottavio remove their masks, saying that Giovanni cannot deceive them. They know that he alone is guilty and, indeed, that all his crimes and evil deeds are known. In the face of these accusations and threats of vengeance Giovanni and Leporello remain defiant and make their escape.
Act II
Leporello tells Giovanni that he has had enough, and is leaving. This last escapade has almost cost him his life. But Giovanni knows his servant well and Leporello's mind is quickly changed when he is offered four gold pieces. Leporello asks Giovanni to give up women. 'I, give up women?' Giovanni replies. 'You know very well that I need women more than food and drink!' 'But then, how can you have the heart to desert them?' asks Leporello. 'Because I love them, says Giovanni. 'To be faithful to one woman means neglecting the others'.
Giovanni's next target is Elvira's maid. He needs Leporello's cooperation. Young women of the maid's status in life do not seem to trust the gentry and so he exchanges clothes with Leporello.
In the fading light of the evening Elvira appears on her balcony. As Leporello (now wearing Giovanni's cloak and hat) mimes, Giovanni supplies the voice claiming that he cannot live without her and pleading for forgiveness. Elvira believes that Giovanni is genuinely sorry for his past behaviour and comes down to greet him (Ah taci, ingiusto core).
Following Giovanni's instructions, when Elvira appears Leporello embraces her. Giovanni creates a disturbance by pretending to attack an intruder. To avoid becoming involved Elvira and Leporello leave hurriedly.
Giovanni can now begin a serenade beneath the window of Elvira's maid (Deh vieni alla finestra), but he is interrupted by the sudden arrival of Masetto and a gang of peasants. They are heavily armed and are in search of Giovanni whom they intend to kill.
Giovanni introduces himself to them as Leporello and says he would like to join them, he has some old scores to settle with his master (Metà di voi). He advises that to catch Giovanni more quickly the group should split up and search in various directions. Masetto should stay with 'Leporello'.
When the two are alone Giovanni asks whether they must really kill their man. Wouldn't it be enough to break a few bones? But Masetto insists Giovanni must be killed and, to underline his intentions, he shows Giovanni the weapons he is carrying. As Giovanni receives a pistol from Masetto, he attacks him, knocks him to the ground and makes his escape.
Masetto's groans are heard by Zerlina who naturally comes to his aid. She rebukes Masetto, telling him that she has constantly warned that his jealousy would lead to trouble. She takes Masetto home and promises that with love and care she will nurse him back to health (Vedrai carino).
Leporello has not yet been recognized by Elvira. It is dark and he is unable to find the doorway through which to escape (Sola sola in buio loco). Anna and Ottavio enter, followed shortly by Zerlina and Masetto, who spot Leporello and mistake him for Giovanni, the murderer, the man for whom they have all been searching.
Elvira intervenes and asks them to forgive her 'husband', but Ottavio makes a move to kill Leporello. In desperation Leporello uncovers his face, reveals who he is and blames Giovanni for all that has happened (Ah pietà).
Masetto believes he has a score to settle with 'Leporello'. In various ways they have all been cheated, but in the confusion the real Leporello escapes. Ottavio is now satisfied that Giovanni was the killer of Anna's father and pledges to bring the murderer to justice (Il mio tesoro).
When the others have left, Elvira, angry that she should have been so mistreated, accepts that Giovanni deserves the punishment he has coming to him. At the same time, deep within her, she still feels an attraction for the man who has so treacherously betrayed her (Mi tradi quell' alma ingrata).
Giovanni leaps over the wall into the cemetery in search of a hiding place. He congratulates himself on yet another narrow escape. Leporello arrives having just avoided the clutches of the angry five.
Giovanni and Leporello end up in the cemetery. As they exchange their experiences, a mysterious third voice tells him 'This night shall see an end to all your laughter'. Leporello trembles with fear, but Giovanni dismisses the incident as someone playing a practical joke.
Giovanni notices a statue of the recently murdered Commendatore nearby. He orders Leporello to read the inscription. It states that the statue is waiting for vengeance on the traitor who killed the Commendatore. Pouring scorn on Leporello's fear, Giovanni orders him to invite the statue to supper (O statua gentilissima). Leporello does so and is sure the statue nods its head in response. Giovanni repeats the invitation himself 'You'll come to supper?' The statue answers 'Yes'. Giovanni looks forward to supper. Leporello is terrified.
Ottavio reassures Anna that Giovanni will soon be brought to justice. It is Ottavio's wish that he and Anna should marry without delay, but Anna puts off the event during this period when she is grieving for her father. She rejects Ottavio's suggestion that she is cruel and hopes for a time when all will be peace and happiness once more (Non mi dir.)
Giovanni is eating alone at the table, waited on by Leporello. Musicians play to entertain Giovanni.
Elvira arrives to say that she is no longer angry and begs Giovanni to reform. He mocks Elvira and she leaves deeply hurt by his cruelty.
No sooner has she left the hall than there is terrible scream and Elvira rushes back in and flees through another door. Leporello is sent to discover the cause of Elvira's distress. There is an even louder cry before the terrified Leporello returns announcing that the marble statue is approaching.
Giovanni welcomes his guest and tells Leporello to lay an extra place at the table, but the statue says he no longer has need of earthly food. He has fulfilled his promise by accepting Giovanni's invitation. Will Giovanni now accept a return invitation with the Commendatore? The statue offers his hand. But the hand is icy cold and, for the first time, Giovanni is frightened. The statue tells him that if he will repent all will be well. Giovanni obstinately refuses. He is damned and is dragged into the flames of hell.
Anna, Elvira, Zerlina, Ottavio and Masetto arrive in search of Giovanni. Leporello tells them his master has left and has gone much further than they should go. They ask him to explain himself and, still stuttering from fear, he tells the story of the statue. Elvira confirms that she also saw it.
Ottavio feels that vengeance has now been carried out and sees no further obstacle to marriage, but Anna wishes to mourn her father for one year longer. Elvira will spend the rest of her life in a convent and Zerlina and Masetto return home to invite their friends to a splendid dinner. Leporello hopes to find a better master! All join together to underline the moral: those who live a life of evil and wrongdoing will come to an unpleasant end.
